We need to learn quickly to keep up with the massive change around us so we don't get run over. We need to outrun change.

On 12-3, SpaceX put a satellite into a high-earth orbit. The Luxembourg satellite operator SES will settle their sat into geosync orbit.

This is a major deal for SpaceX because it proves they can lift into geosync orbit. That means the satellite will appear to remain in the same place relative to the ground. They have a lot of contracts to do so and can now try breaking into the market for lifting Pentagon satellites. Up to now, they have only lifted to low-earth orbit.

Half price – SpaceX price as portion of their competitors’ prices based on comment I saw somewhere (don’t remember where)

Launch market:

$2.4 billion – size of market for lifting large satellites.

Atlas V and Delta IV – launch vehicles from United Launch Alliance used exclusively for national security related launches.

Joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing – dominant player for U.S. spy & military launches (near 100% of launches?)

more demand than capacity – Several comments throughout the articles suggests to me that the satellite operators want to put more sats into orbit than what the current capacity in the industry can deliver. This would explain the large backlog of contracted launches. If I’m reading that correctly, the growth potential for SpaceX is huge. Very cool.

SpaceX is privately founded, run, and funded. Currently is closely held.